Sermon Notes 06-14-09

June 14th 2009 “Fire-Proofing Your Life”“Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. 2Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ’s love for you was like sweet perfume to him.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Are You willing to take a dare?I just returned from a trip to Chicago and while I was there I learned about: “The Great Chicago Fire” which ragged from October 8 until October 10, 1871—eventually destroying about four square miles of that city and killing hundreds of its citizens.

Most people believe the cause of this devastating fire was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow who kicked over a lantern in her barn that night. But, in 1893 Michael Ahern—the reporter who first wrote about the cow story—Ahern admitted that he had made that all up because he thought it would make colorful copy—which shows you can’t always believe what you read in the paper!
This was a truly HORRIBLE fire—in fact, it was one of the worst disasters of the 19th century—and several things helped it get that distinction.

First, there was the city’s overuse of wood for building—and a long drought prior to the fire.
On top of all that—the firefighters were exhausted from fighting a fire that had happened the day before. They did not even receive the first alarm until nearly an hour after the fire started because the first glow in the sky was thought to be from the smoldering flames of a fire the day before.

Attempts to stop the fire were unsuccessful. The mayor had even called surrounding cities for help but by that point the fire was simply too large to contain. Plus—when the fire destroyed the waterworks, just north of the Chicago River, the city’s water supply was cut off which forced the firefighters to give up all together.

By the end of the third day the fire finally burned itself out, aided by diminishing winds and a light drizzle that began falling. Eventually it was determined that the fire had destroyed an area of about four miles long and 3/4 mile wide, encompassing more than 2,000 acres—acres that included more than 17,500 gutted buildings—$222 million worth of property—about a third of the city’s value back then. Of the 300,000 inhabitants, 90,000 were left homeless.

I share this bit of history because in a very real sense there is a fire raging throughout thousands of homes in America right now. I’m referring to the “fire” of DIVORCE from God’s Promises!
I “Double-Dare” you to fire-proof your life with God’s Promises!

Points to Ponder:
1st Divorcement from God’s Promises!

Ephesians 5:1“Follow God’s example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father.”
Many are divorcing the Bible truths and saying it is not relevant! Can you count on God’s word?
Divorce is a powerful and destructive word!
When I say “Divorce” you immediately begin to think of Marriage: but “Divorce” can also have many different applications!
We have children “Divorcing” their parents and demanding “emancipation!”
We have “Church Members” “Divorcing” their churches and leaving them!
We have husbands and wives “Divorcing” and leaving their homes and the fire goes on and on and on!
“Fires” are breaking out all over and I believe we as a church need to “Fire-Proof” the promises of God!
Webster defines the word “FIREPROOF” like this: “CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING OR PREVENTING DAMAGE BY FIRE.”

Did you know that we are the “Bride of Christ?” Revelation 19:7 “6Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

The truths of these sermons will be applicable to Married couples as well as to those who are not married!
Many Christians and married couples have “…lost that lovin’ feeling…” just like Frankie Valley sang many years ago!
It’s all about: “Who’s Going To Be Boss?”

Points to Ponder:
2nd Who’s Going to Be Boss?

A. Married Couples and Believers need to discover who is to be number ONE in their relationship—God or Self? Ephesians 5:21 says: “Submit to ONE ANOTHER out of reverence for Christ.” hoop-ot-as'-so “submit,” here literally means “...to line yourself up under...” or, “..to give up your rights.”
Believers or husband and wife are to each give up their rights—they are to line themselves up under EACH OTHER.
It all comes down to POWER!

B. When we think of someone who has power over us we can have many reactions: “No one is going to “Lord over me!” or “Who died and made you the King?”
In a relationship with God or in a Marriage relationship: “You must come to grips with: WHO’S GOING TO BE BOSS?”

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
It all belongs to Him!
We just get to manage it for 40, 57, 70, 996 years!

B. Jesus said in Matthew 25:14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”Circle—“his property!” Not “Joe Husband” or “Jane Wife”—everything belongs to God!

I’ve heard these statements:
“The husband should make all the important decisions in the relationship...”
“The husband should go out and earn the family’s daily bread and the wife should stay home and bake it.” or
“The husband is the president of the family and the wife is the vice-president.” or—and this is my favorite: “The husband should control the TV remote...”

“Who is in charge, husbands or wives?” Ephesians 5:21“submit to ONE ANOTHER...out of reverence for Christ.”
Who is in charge, husband or wife?” — NEITHER. The correct answer to that question is JESUS. He is in charge. He is the boss. He is the head of any marriage—just as He is the Head of the church and should be the head of your life.

Illustration: There was a General under Cyrus, ruler of Persia, a general who learned that his wife had been accused of treason and had been condemned to die. When the general heard this he rushed to the palace and burst into the throne room....throwing himself on the floor before the king. Then he cried out, “Oh my lord Cyrus, take my life instead of hers. Let me die in her place.” Cyrus, who by all historical accounts was a noble and extremely sensitive man, was touched by this offer. He said, “Love like that must not be spoiled by death.” And then he gave the husband and wife back to each other and let the wife go free. As they walked away the husband said to his wife, “Did you notice how kindly the king looked at us when he gave you the pardon?” The wife replied, “I had no eyes for the king. I saw only the man who was willing to die in my place.” 1 Corinthians 13 where it says selfless love, “...does not demand its own way...”
Husbands and wives ARE unique—and of course humor relating to this subject abounds.

It has been said that a man won’t hesitate to pay $2 for something worth a $1 if he really wants it.
On the other hand a woman won’t hesitate to pay $1 for something worth $2 even if she DOESN’T want it.
A woman marries a man expecting him to change.
A man marries a woman hoping she won’t change.

Men tend to be physically stronger than women. But because of their greater lower body strength women tend to do better than men in long distance activities like running or swimming which is why the women’s best time in swimming the English Channel is three hours better than the man’s best time!

Women tend to live 4-8 years longer than we guys do. A woman’s metabolism is slower than a man’s—And these physical differences are just the tip of the iceberg!
Men function best when they can focus on one thing at a time while women can usually be multi-focused—an ability that can be very handy when it comes to parenting.

Women tend to be more VERBAL than men. In fact they learn to talk sooner than we guys do. A study was done a few years back that showed that 100% of the sounds coming out of the mouths of girls aged 2-4 had to do with conversation, whereas for the boys only 60% did. The rest were animal sounds or truck or car sounds. So, the truth is men start off behind women in talking and we never catch up. Communication experts say that the average woman speaks over 25,000 words a day, while the average man speaks only a little over 10,000. This means that in marriage by the time the man gets home from work he’s used all his words whereas his wife is just warming up. Anyone every had a marital argument that stemmed from the wife’s desire to talk when the husband got home from work and the husband’s desire to just vegg out in front of the TV?
This verbal uniqueness is why women who hardly know each other can have a long and meaningful conversation. Perhaps you’ve heard of the man who said, “My wife was on the phone for nearly 30 minutes. When she hung up I asked her, ‘Who was that?’ She said, ‘Wrong number.’”
Men tend to focus on doing things—especially FIXING things whereas women focus more on just being heard.

Points to Ponder:
3rd Three is Better than One!

Men and women who experience the joy and fulfillment and excitement of marriage; as well as those who are not married: are those people who invite GOD into their relationship.

Pastor Phil says: “I believe that many brothers and sisters in Christ have, by their actions, divorced themselves from God!”
God’s Promises: Many have lost their belief in the words of the Book:
" God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
" I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world! " John 16:33
" Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
" I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8
" I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3

" I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

" Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5,6
"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust...." Psalm 40:4
Isaiah 43:1-3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”

“Fire-Proof” your life—I DOUBLE DARE YOU!“Never leave your partner behind!”